Electrochemical sensors based on nanostructured and chemically modified sp2 and sp3 carbon surfaces for (bio)analytical applications

Electrochemical performance of boron-doped diamond (BDD) is influenced by surface termination, content of sp2 carbon and surface morphology. This project focuses on tuning of the BDD-based surfaces for fabrication of sensing devices and their application in (bio)electroanalysis. Materials with variable sp3/sp2 carbon ratio will be prepared using novel deposition and surface annealing procedures. Different surface terminations (−H, −O, −NH2, −COOH, and –F) will be achieved by plasma or chemical post-functionalization, also with focus on spatial distribution of surface areas with different properties. Protocols for covalent attachment of biomolecules on sp3/sp2 carbon surfaces will be established. Surface interactions will be studied using low-molecular organic compounds and biomolecules with focus on adsorption and electron transfer kinetics . On-demand designed electrodes including porous flow-through BDD electrodes will be embedded in detection systems for batch and flow analysis and applied in selected tasks of organic electroanalysis, DNA analysis and protein immunosensing.